Pension St. Josef

Zürich, Switzerland

View from Room 415 of the Pension St. Josef in Zürich.

Zürich, Switzerland has a reputation for being expensive, but it doesn't have to be. If you're looking for budget accommodations, you'll find two comfortable guesthouses within easy walking distance of the main railroad station.

Pension St. Josef
Hirschengraben 64/68
CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Tel. tel +41 1 250 57 57
Fax +41 1 251 28 08
www.st-josef.ch/

A Catholic organization runs this cozy pension, but you'd never know it unless you wandered into the small chapel upstairs. Instead, you're likely to be impressed by the friendly staff at the reception desk, the cheerful if simple room furnishings, and the pleasant TV lounge/library  where you can watch a Swiss soap opera or read the latest German-language magazines.

On a trip in December of 2001, I spent two nights in room 415, a double with end-to-end twin beds and a sink flanked by modern white wardrobes. (The WC was next door, with another toilet/shower a short distance away.) The mattress was firm, the views of the neighboring courtyard (photo above) and the street were pleasant, and both the room and the public facilities were impeccably clean. Security was also excellent, thanks to a locking automatic door between the lobby and the guest areas. (Note: The St. Josef recently underwent a renovation, so my photos may not do justice to the rooms.)

Other accommodations in the Pension St. Josef include rooms with private bath for up to five people and studios with kitchenettes for one to four guests.

The buffet breakfast was exceptional for a hotel in this price category. Each morning's repast included several types of juices, rolls, various sliced breads, cheese, ham, yogurt, cereals, butter, jam, Nutella, and generous pitchers of coffee and hot milk. The large, cheery breakfast room had a pile of free newspapers and a bowl of fruit for guests who might want an apple to snack on later in the day, and I even saw the friendly cook supply an extra paper napkin to a student who wanted to make a sandwich for lunch.

Verdict: If you're looking for inexpensive lodgings in central Zürich, you'll have trouble finding a better value than the Pension St. Josef. But for another option, see the next page:

Next page: Hotel Martahaus

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